384 Abrupt Vision, Angelises Mysterious Origins (1/2)
Day 60 - 11:35 AM - General's Residence, North District, Bay City Settlement, Pasay City, Metro Manila
The answers Angelise gave Mark were unsatisfactory. Nevertheless, there was nothing he could do about it if she did not know anything. It was not her fault.
About the locket, Mark received it without expecting too much. This locket which should have been able to tell her origins, but she remained oblivious about anything.
Looking at the locket, however, Mark was frozen in shock.
Without noticing Mark's expression, Angelise started speaking.
”You see... My Dad and Mom. My parents that adopted me weren't able to bear a child. Mom had a problem with her body. It's a pity because they are rich and can't have an heir. That is why they looked for a child to adopt, and that's me.”
She sighed.
”Like most orphans, I was happy. Dad and Mom were also kind and treated me like their own child. But it did not last too long. They died in an accident when I was nineteen. That is when I had the urge to look for my real parents using that locket. I failed, unfortunately. No one can even open that locket without destroying it. It's even questionable if that is possible.”
Angeline looked at Mark. That was when she noticed that something was wrong as Mark's expression was too solemn while staring at her locket.
”Is something wrong?”
She asked. However, Mark did not reply. Nevertheless, she was rather surprised herself.
It was because...
Mark's eyes were glowing with a deep purple color.
***
Mark stared at the locket with his expression going serious from shock.
The locket looked like it was old. An antique preserved for a very long time. He could not tell what kind of metal this locket was made, but for sure, it was something very sturdy.
Of course, the most pressing part of it was the crest carved on the cover of the locket.
It was a sea serpent with wings winding around a trident. The wings of the serpent were slanted. The wing on the right lower than the left and the head of the serpent was in front of the base of the trident's prongs.
Without a doubt, this crest belonged to the royal family of the lost civilization. The lost civilization that was the ancestors of the residents of Eriellis.
Mark caressed the head as the sentiments Freed left inside him flowed.
Unexpectedly, scenes passed by his eyes.
***
It was the night of a snowstorm. Two people wearing robes could be seen frantically running inside a snow-covered forest. They wore white robes that blended with the white snow. One of the two was carrying something covered with a thick cloth. By the shape of the cloth, it was very likely to be an infant.
From the manner the two ran despite the thick snow, they were being chased. The two kept looking behind them from time to time. Luckily, the snowstorm immediately covered their tracks delaying the ones chasing them.
”Meririo we can't keep this up! Ellicea will freeze to death!”
The person carrying the infant worriedly spoke. From the voice, the person was a female and it was easy to tell that she was the mother of this child.
While she was talking, the strong blow of the wind knocked off her hood revealing a beautiful woman with bright golden hair. As she was carrying the infant with both hands, she struggled to cover her head once more.
The other person immediately helped her.
”We have no choice Ronellia. If they caught us, not only we will be executed but our daughter will be put into their experiments.”
Hearing that, Ronellia lamented.
”Just why do we have to be descendants of those deserters...”
”There is nothing we can do about it. It had been an accident. We just need to leave this place.”
”No, if we took too long, it will be late for Ellicea. I don't mind dying, but at least, she...”
As they continued, Ronellia saw a silhouette of building from afar.
At the same time, Meririo suddenly turned his head behind with a serious expression.
”Ronellia, they are coming closer.”
He said even though there was no one in sight.
”What should we do?!”
”Let us check that building. We should at least hide Ellicea.”
Hearing that, Ronellia nodded without hesitation.
When they saw the sign in front of the building, they felt relieved to some extent. It was an orphanage.
”I'll seal her first. We should make sure that they won't find her.”
Ronellia said in which Meririo nodded.
”Sorry, my daughter, but we have to do this. We will return if we could. If not, I wish you a happy life.”
Ronellia set the infant down in front of the door removed the part that covered Ellicea's face to see her one last time.
There, the sleeping infant with golden blond hair could be seen.
After kissing the infant's forehead with affection, Ronellia started while Meririo kept on the lookout.
The mother stretched out both her hands onto the chest of the infant and a small circle of light with many symbols appeared. It was, no doubt, a magic circle.
As Ronellia sealed the infant, Ellicea's hair darkened and from her bright golden blonde hair, it turned into a pale yellowish color.
When the sealing finished, Ronellia frantically knocked on the door to be sure that she would be heard from the inside. When the two parents sensed that there was someone coming, they hid.
There, they saw a nun open the door and with shock, picked up Ellicea. The nun then tried to look around but saw no one. She looked at the infant with pitiful eyes as she entered the orphanage once more.
Seeing that expression of the nun, both Meririo and Ronellia were relieved. They then ran. Not to escape but to lead their pursuers in a different direction.
As they ran away, Meririo noticed.
”You left you locket?”
”I did. If the worst came, in the least, I don't want her to think that we didn't love her.”
Hearing that, Meririo smiled.
”Should we do this?”
”Yes.”
Finishing that conversation, a magic circle appeared under the feet of the two before they moved in inhumane speed. This speed was not something an infant would be able to handle.
While they were moving fast, it would also make them easily noticeable by their enemies. And that was what they wanted.
Soon, they saw the enemies gaining on them. There were about a dozen of them wearing the same kind of robe but with a gray color.
***
Mark felt a shake on his shoulder. He returned to reality too abruptly that he felt a bit dizzy. As sweat trickled from his forehead, he felt a soft cloth wiping his face.